Neighbors, Neighborhoods, and the Sun

“My role in society … is to try and express what we all feel. Not to tell people how to feel. Not as a preacher, not as a leader, but as a reflection of us all.” John Lennon

For the first time in what seems like years, the sun has continued to shine in our neck of the woods for a string of days, and I can tell it is making a difference in my life. The influx of Vitamin D has done this body good (although I dare say (ahem) you probably couldn’t tell that by looking).

In any case, we had gone for so long with only the odd day of sunshine here and there that I was beginning to despair of ever seeing that golden orb ever again.

That’s a silly notion, of course, as the sun does make her inevitable return faithfully, and the local citizenry greets her with a mixture of joy and awe (and some confusion: what’s that thing called, again?).

When I look around at the locals in their giddiness, I can’t help but make note of what amnesiacs we all are. Up there in that space between our ears, we know full well how the seasons work, how the jet stream affects the weather, and how the sun bobs and weaves her way through this universe of ours, and yet in our hearts, aren’t we just a little bit forgetful? Don’t we start to wonder if warm and sunny days will ever return (or conversely, whether we’ll ever see the rain again when faced with a long, hot, dry spell)?

Yes, we wonder; and yes, we sometimes do forget; but with the change of seasons, we are reminded of things we have otherwise forgotten. God does not forget us. That’s a fact. The trees have been leafing out and blooming for months now – if you don’t believe me, just ask your allergist! The birds have been singing their songs and making their nests, and foraging squirrels have forgotten how hazardous long ribbons of concrete can be!

But that’s life, isn’t it? Singing songs; making babies; foraging for what we need (and doing so somewhat carelessly at times); and all of that for no better reason than that’s what we’re here to do – and we do it as best we can without causing too much of a flap with the neighbors.

That’s the other thing I noticed about the sun’s return: neighbors. We who’ve been holed up for months in our windowed boxes have stepped outside to see what chores winter’s effect has left for us in the wake of her passing.

Like squirrels on the prowl, neighbors step into the street to discuss matters as mundane as the spring crop of dandelions, drooping gutters, the detritus of fallen limbs and broken branches, and the state of the economy. The warmth of the sun’s rays are matched by the radiant warmth of neighbors re-connecting, catching up, and once again exchanging news, notes, and other confections of life – of that which we call “community.”

We forget just how much it means to belong to something larger than ourselves. I suppose that’s one reason we continue to live in cities, even though the need for walls and mutual protection from roving vandals is mostly a thing of the past (although modern gangs, thugs, and hooligans makes evident our continuing need for good locks); the fact remains that even if we think we can get along just fine alone and on our own, we still need one another.

But even if we didn’t need one another, one other fact remains – that life is simply more fun when it is spent in the company of others.

As nice as it is to have the convenience of a refrigerator in the kitchen and a bathroom down the hall, people have more fun when attending games at the ballpark; as nice as it is to research DIY tips and order goods online, people have more fun finding solutions for their projects as they discuss their dreams and challenges with others at the shops and stores in town.

In short, the approach of summer invites us to get out, look around, and cheer up in this, our community. The view outside is so much better when we’re there to share it together. Enjoy!